Following his premature departure from “Bond 25” early last year (at this point, a wise move), director Danny Boyle quickly teamed-up with screenwriter Richard Curtis on a secret project. Universal kept the plot under wraps until the title and first trailer were released back in February. “Yesterday” has one of the most intriguing concepts of […]
In 2016, Ron Howard directed an insightful look at one of the most iconic bands in history with “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years”. Now Howard returns to the music doc genre, this time focusing on world-renowned opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. At just under two hours, “Pavarotti” is one of the […]
Summer 2019 at the movies will be remembered for two things: Disney (big surprise!) and the celebration of music icons. Films centered around the songs of The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen are on the way. But first up is this extravagant musical biopic of Sir Elton John. “Rocketman” director Dexter Fletcher knows a thing or […]
You’re probably asking yourself, “Do we really need another animated movie about talking toys?” In this case, the answer is Yes. “UglyDolls” doesn’t have the impact of “Toy Story”, the wow factor of the first “LEGO Movie” or the razzle-dazzle of “Trolls”. But veteran animation director Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”, “Gnomeo & Juliet”, “Smurfs: The […]
“Breakthrough” is based on an incredible true story. In January 2015, 14-year-old middle school student John Smith was playing with some friends on a frozen lake in his hometown of Saint Charles, Missouri, when he fell through the ice. Firefighters rescued him after he was underwater for more than 15 minutes. John was first taken […]
Actress Isabelle Huppert is considered an icon in her native France. But it wasn’t until 2016 that most American audiences were introduced to her, with her Golden Globe-winning, Oscar nominated role in the bizarre “Elle”. Huppert’s performance as an assault victim determined to learn the identity of her attacker commanded the screen, the actress often […]
When it comes to this year’s Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films presentation, The Academy and Shorts.TV, which distribute this to select theaters nationwide, took the word “short” literally. The five nominees are shown, of course, though they only add up to 55 minutes. Normally, a handful of other contenders are added to the program to […]
Steven Knight is a fascinating guy. First he was a TV series writer. Then he co-created a game show. But not just any game show: the original, British version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Then he started writing screenplays. And then he decided to direct films. Five years after the release of his […]
Two years ago, young actor Lucas Hedges gave a breakthrough, Oscar-nominated performance in “Manchester by the Sea”. Now, following roles in 2017’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and this year’s “mid90s” and “Boy Erased”, Hedges stars in his father’s latest film. “Ben is Back” is directed by Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life”, “The Odd […]
“Roma” is Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron’s follow-up to 2013’s “Gravity”. It’s dramatically different in scope as that space epic, though just as visually stunning. (And there’s a fun moment in “Roma” when characters are watching a movie in which an astronaut is trying to save another as they’re falling towards Earth. Cuaron has had a […]